The historical capital of Wallachia and the capital of Dâmbovița County.
Is Târgoviște worth visiting?
Despite its historic status as a capital, the old town of Târgoviște is not overly large, and even when combined with the fortress of the Wallachian princes, one day is enough to see it all.
The city is an excellent stopover for an overnight stay during a trip. You won’t encounter the same parking issues here as in Cluj-Napoca or Bucharest, and you will certainly find a pleasant restaurant serving Wallachian cuisine.
If you are fascinated by the darker history of this region, you should know that it was not Bran—now crowded with Hell’s Angels on their motorbikes—but Târgoviște that was the actual seat of both Vlad Dracula and his son Vlad Țepeș. The city, which served as the summer residence of the princes of Wallachia, is also the site of the execution of Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena.
Târgoviște served as the capital of Wallachia during the Middle Ages, specifically from 1418 to 1659. It was an important administrative and cultural center of the region.
One of the city’s most notable landmarks is the Târgoviște Fortress (Cetatea Târgoviștei), which served as the residence of the princes of Wallachia. The fortress now houses a museum presenting the region’s history.
Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena were captured in Târgoviște during the revolution in December 1989. They were tried there and executed by firing squad. These events took place within the premises of the military barracks in Târgoviște.
Royal Court in Târgoviște – Curtea Domnească
The first building that could serve as a royal residence was erected around 1400 by Mircea the Elder, probably to provide a capital for his son, associate, and successor Michael I.
The current appearance dates from the 1961 restoration and conservation works, when part of the Târgoviște fortress, the royal palace, and its associated buildings were organized as a museum and opened to tourists.
Biserica Mare Domnească – The Great Royal Church
The Royal Church was founded by Voivode Petru Cercel, modeled after the metropolitan church in the city, but on a much larger scale. At the time of its construction, it was the largest religious building in Wallachia. The painting, preserved to this day, was created entirely between 1696 and 1698, during the reign of Constantin Brâncoveanu, and contains the largest gallery of portraits of Wallachian rulers.
Biserica Târgului – The Town Church
An Orthodox church dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
The current building, located in the center of Târgoviște, was erected in 1654 by Udriște Năsturel on the site of another church, probably dating back to the 16th century.
Archbishop`s Cathedral in Târgoviște
A church dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord, built between 1892 and 1895 on the site of the former seat of the Wallachian Metropolis. It is the largest place of worship in Târgoviște and serves as the cathedral of the archdiocese.
The present church was built according to the designs of French architect André Lecomte du Noüy, who had been invited to Romania by King Carol I to restore several places of worship.
Church of the Holy Voivodes Michael and Gabriel in Târgoviște
Before the first documented mention in 1615, the church was built on the site of an older structure. With a three-part layout, a slender spire over the nave, and a porch supported by pillars, it features architectural characteristics that make it unique among churches from the 16th and early 17th centuries. It was severely damaged by earthquakes in 1977, 1986, and 1990.
Ruins of the Old Wallachian Metropolis
An archaeological site of the Archdiocese of Târgoviște in the city center, near Piața Tricolorului. The foundations were uncovered during excavations in 1972 and 1985–1986, which identified rooms, cells, and the gate tower of the former Metropolis, and in 1990, when the Metropolitan Palace was also discovered.
Piața Tricolorului
The Square of the Three Colors – the most important and largest public square in Târgoviște.
